Top 10 Cougar Plays: #1

by Grady Clapp on Jun 9, 2009 8:00 AM PDT in WSU Cougar Basketball Comment 12 comments

February 28th: Like it was going to be anything else.

This was absolutely horrific shot selection. For one, when you're down only one, the smart play is always - always - to go for two. Driving to the basket is the best way to accomplish this, as it gives you the added chance to get to the foul line if you can't make the shot. Initially, it looks like Taylor was going this route, although Derek Glasser's defense and the bump by Forrest prevented what might have been another trademark runner/floater by Taylor.

Instead, Taylor pulls out to just beyond the three-point line, where he has a decent look if he wants to pull the trigger. He doesn't. He passes it to Marcus Capers, who, perhaps remembering the UCLA game, gets the ball out of his hands as quickly as possible. Back to Rochesite. He shakes of Glasser, and....

All I remember is seeing a ball go up. I had no idea where he shot it, as I was on the other end of the court blocked by my fellow students probably screaming for a time out. I remember the silence as it went up, the initial shock when it went through, and then the pandemonium when we all realized what had happened.

Usually, shots like these go to the other guys. Friel, as great a venue as it is, never usually rewards the home team. We've seen losses in this building that felt like a punch to the stomach. We've seen calls as inept as any I've ever seen in college basketball. We've seen our final desperation attempts fall harmlessly to the ground. This time was different.

As much as we want to make the smart call, play the percentages, go by the book, every once in a while you get something even better when you just throw it all out the window. And that's what Taylor Rochestie did. In his final home game, with the postseason on the line. There will never be another shot like this one in the minds of Cougar fans.

Forget basketball. Forget just this year. This is my favorite Cougar play of all time.

I still can't believe it went in.

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Certain Moments...

There are moments that stand out to you – as a young fan, attending WSU, as an Alumni, as a seasoned fan of many years. You go through a lot, and you remember many ups and downs. In all of my years as a Coug fan, this one tops them all – and not only because of the enormity of the play, but because the memory I took away from it…

My daughter and I watched every televised Coug game together, and on this particular occasion, we were in my bedroom, watching the game on the flatscreen and she was jumping on the bed with excitement. It was like a snapshot of time – we both held perfectly still as Taylor held the ball, took the shot, and when he nailed it, I jumped up and my daughter jumped up, and right off, the side of the bed. She landed hard on the floor, got right up, yelled “i’m ok” and got right back to celebrating.

Not only was it one of the greatest Coug moments of all time, but one I got to share with her as well. How F’n cool is that!

by WSUCougMaddie on Jun 9, 2009 8:51 AM PDT reply actions

Similar Story Here

Took my girls (8 and 11) to Pullman for the first time for this game. Learning the fight song, they being amazed at all the crimson clad students and in awe of the noise. The older one had tears after Taylor made the shot while I was waiting for Abbott to hit his heave that never went in. Both of them took an increase in interest in BB after that, so all in all, a great initial experience for the both of them.

by ZeusGalore on Jun 9, 2009 10:12 AM PDT reply actions

I can imagine how cool it would be....

To have that type of experience with your child either attending or watching a Coug game like that.

by SW WA Coug on Jun 9, 2009 5:00 PM PDT up reply actions

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!@OUEGGPOI

CougCenter

by Jeff Nusser on Jun 9, 2009 12:19 PM PDT reply actions

That was pretty much my reaction too

by johnnycougar on Jun 9, 2009 3:14 PM PDT up reply actions

Man me too

I specifically remember beings so unbelievably pissed at Taylor for taking such an awful shot, then that quickly turned into pure unadulterated love.

It was this shot that put Taylor in the same category as Low and Weaver for me.

by DrayCox on Jun 9, 2009 4:45 PM PDT up reply actions

That is the long version of my post at that time....

And I think a couple of others as well. The perfect reaction? Just saying….

by SW WA Coug on Jun 9, 2009 4:56 PM PDT up reply actions

Definitely one of the top b-ball plays of all time, but

will never take away the block in our ’97 Rose Bowl run.
I am really going to miss TR. That guy was a clutch performer. Always willing to take the final shot.

by ptowncoug3012 on Jun 9, 2009 12:52 PM PDT reply actions

Yup, my top all-time Cougar moment was Chris Jackson's catch in the 1997 Apple Cup

That’s when I knew there was no way we were going to lose.

CougCenter

by Jeff Nusser on Jun 9, 2009 1:48 PM PDT up reply actions

Pollard tip-in in against UCLA in 3OT

That is my favorite when it comes down to it but it was what…25+ years ago? UCLA had the better Daye (Darren not Austin) and I think Rocket Rod Foster.

Rotchestie’s shot was AMAZING!!!! With youtube it will live forever. ;)

by BornCoug on Jun 9, 2009 1:58 PM PDT up reply actions

Fake punt against UO in 1971....

I was in the perfect spot in the student section behind the play to see it all unfold. I can’t remember exactly how the play unfolded, but Bernard Jackson ended up with the ball, racing down the sidelines with it and nobody had a clue. I never took my eyes off the ball. Nobody was within 40 yards of Bernard after he broke the line of scrimmage. I don’t even think most of the guys on our team knew what happened because I don’t think more than just those directly involved in ‘the play’ knew what was about to happen.

I do remember all around me wondering why I was going nuts. When I pointed it out to them, Jackson was waltzing into the endzone. Then they understood.

by SW WA Coug on Jun 9, 2009 4:53 PM PDT up reply actions